In the Harry Potter series, once when the Weasley twins jump on their brooms
and leave school early, other students talk about “doing a Weasley”.
This name-verbing happens in real life too. “To Kanye” now is to
interrupt someone in the middle of something important.

While none of the above examples have made it to the dictionary, many others
have. This week we’ll see five such people who became verbs. To meet these
personalities, we’ll visit the world of mythology, film, government, religion,
and history.

Chances are you yourself have turned the name of someone around you into a verb.
Share your examples below or email us at words@wordsmith.org.

adonize

PRONUNCIATION:

(AD-uh-nyz)

MEANING:

verb tr.: To make more attractive; to spruce up.

ETYMOLOGY:

After Adonis, a beautiful youth in Greek mythology, loved by Aphrodite.
Adonis’s name has become a synonym for a very handsome young man. Earliest
documented use: 1611.

The difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind. -Charles Darwin, naturalist and author (12 Feb 1809-1882)
[Note: We have replaced the ATFT originally featured today. It was unsourced.]